1. Ian Alexander "Molly" Meldrum AM was born on 29 January 1943 and is an Australian music critic, journalist, record producer and musical entrepreneur.
78 Facts About Molly Meldrum
1. 2.
Molly Meldrum was the talent coordinator, on-air interviewer, and music news presenter on the former popular music program Countdown and is widely recognised for his trademark Stetson hat, which he has regularly worn in public since the 1980s.
3.
Molly Meldrum hosted Oz for Africa in July 1985, the Australian leg of Live Aid.
4.
Molly Meldrum has earned a reputation as a champion of Australian popular music both in Australia and internationally; his contributions have been acknowledged with an Australian Recording Industry Association Award for Special Achievement in 1993, and the "Ted Albert Award" in 1994 at the Australasian Performing Right Association Awards.
5.
In 2014, Molly Meldrum was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, together with his TV show Countdown; he became the first non-artist to receive the accolade.
6.
On 15 December 2011, Molly Meldrum had a life-threatening fall from a ladder in the backyard of his Melbourne home.
7.
Molly Meldrum was placed under intensive care in a critical condition at the Alfred Hospital and had surgery for his head and spinal injuries.
8.
Ian Alexander Molly Meldrum was born in Orbost, Victoria, on 29 January 1943.
9.
Molly Meldrum moved around during childhood and grew up largely with one of his grandmothers in Quambatook, where he attended the local primary school alongside future country music artist John Williamson.
10.
Molly Meldrum stayed with a number of aunts and was raised in the traditions of the Church of England.
11.
Molly Meldrum's mother had periodic hospitalisations for mental illness including some years at Larundel Mental Asylum, Bundoora in the mid-1960s.
12.
Also in 1964, Molly Meldrum began his music career as a roadie for his friends' band, The Groop, which had early performances in Anglesea.
13.
Molly Meldrum's first printed interview was with Johnny Young, a singer-songwriter from Perth.
14.
Soon Molly Meldrum was writing a weekly gossip column and regular feature stories.
15.
Molly Meldrum continued until the paper folded in August 1974.
16.
Molly Meldrum followed them to Melbourne's Armstrong Studios, in late 1966, to observe the recording process.
17.
Molly Meldrum learned record producer and engineering techniques from studio owner, Bill Armstrong, and in house engineer-producer, Roger Savage.
18.
Molly Meldrum became involved with a number of artists' releases, including The Masters Apprentices' August 1967 single, "Living in a Child's Dream".
19.
Al Maricic replaced Joseph and Molly Meldrum reported the change-over for Go-Set.
20.
Maricic asked Molly Meldrum to join the show: originally he declined but was convinced otherwise by Frazer, who reasoned that it would be good for their circulation.
21.
Molly Meldrum moved on to another ATV-0 music show, Uptight, hosted by Ross D Wyllie, which was broadcast for four hours on Saturday mornings with live bands and acts miming their own material.
22.
From January 1968, Molly Meldrum relocated to London, reporting in Go-Set on The Groop's efforts to break into the United Kingdom market; he wrote about the English rock music scene.
23.
Molly Meldrum's writing style in Go-Set developed a camp form.
24.
Molly Meldrum produced Morris' first solo single, a Johnny Young-composed song, "The Real Thing".
25.
In collaboration with Armstrong's house engineer John Sayers, Molly Meldrum radically transformed "The Real Thing" from Young's original vision of a simple acoustic chamber ballad backed by strings, into a heavily produced studio masterpiece, extending it to an unheard-of six minutes in length and overdubbing the basic track with many additional instruments, vocals and sound effects.
26.
Molly Meldrum now encouraged Morris to promote "The Real Thing" with a tour in the United States but Morris disagreed and they separated in late 1969.
27.
Molly Meldrum produced several other hits, including Burns' top ten single, "Smiley", in December 1969, while continuing to write for Go-Set and a variety of magazines.
28.
Molly Meldrum left the UK in 1970 to travel to the USA, reporting on the Los Angeles and New York music scenes and further establishing his contacts.
29.
Molly Meldrum [was] a socialite whose weekly column was a diary of his social life.
30.
Molly Meldrum remained with Go-Set until its last issue on 24 August 1974.
31.
In 1974, Shrimpton and Weekes were meeting at the Botanical Hotel in South Yarra, formulating the concept for a new weekly TV pop music show aimed at the teenage market and decided they needed a talent scout; Molly Meldrum walked in and was given the job.
32.
Molly Meldrum did not originally appear in the series, which had a different guest host each week.
33.
Shrimpton decided an editorial was needed, so Molly Meldrum provided a weekly Rock Report from mid-1975 which was renamed "Humdrum" by guest host John Paul Young, and by year's end he had become the face of the series.
34.
Molly Meldrum produced the debut self-titled album for Supernaut in May 1976 and its related hit single, "I Like It Both Ways".
35.
Molly Meldrum promoted The Ferrets; he had them signed to Mushroom Records and started producing their debut album, Dreams of a Love, on 19 July 1976.
36.
Molly Meldrum was attributed as Willie Everfinish For its lead single, he wanted the A-side as "Lies", taking weeks to produce it, and his preferred B-side, "Don't Fall in Love", was rushed in three hours.
37.
Many customers wanted a copy of The Ferrets' album; however, there was concern at Mushroom, as Molly Meldrum had not yet organised the cover.
38.
Molly Meldrum made overseas trips and formed friendships with many artists, enabling Countdown to gain international exclusives.
39.
Countdown, with Molly Meldrum organising the ceremonies, presented music awards during 1980 to 1987.
40.
The performance was seen as being directed at TV Week, Countdown, and Molly Meldrum as being hangers-on.
41.
Molly Meldrum was noted for several on-screen gaffes, although the most "famous" of all was not originally broadcast.
42.
Molly Meldrum appeared at the end of the show wearing his cowboy hat.
43.
Molly Meldrum saluted the music industry and fans, then bared his shaved head in imitation of Midnight Oil's Peter Garrett and expressed regret that they had never appeared on the show.
44.
In November 1998, Brian Mannix wrote and directed a stage play, Countdown: The Musical Comedy, with Molly Meldrum portrayed by Michael Veitch.
45.
Molly Meldrum appeared on the tribute show, Countdown: Do Yourself a Favour, celebrating its 40th anniversary, which was broadcast by ABC in November 2014.
46.
Andre had been a contestant on New Faces in July 1990 when Molly Meldrum was judging the TV talent show; Molly Meldrum told TV Week that "Peter impressed us all and he has a unique voice that can be developed".
47.
Molly Meldrum travelled extensively, conducting interviews for his segment; including a set of one-on-one interviews with each member of The Rolling Stones.
48.
In March at the ARIA Music Awards of 1988 Molly Meldrum was a presenter.
49.
Molly Meldrum objected to Morris' disrespect to Ferry and he and Morris became embroiled.
50.
At the 1991 ceremony Morris provided a 20-minute acceptance speech on behalf of Midnight Oil: Molly Meldrum disapproved of its length in the media.
51.
However, in 1993, when Molly Meldrum received his ARIA Special Achievement Award for services to the music industry he provided one of the longest acceptance speeches in the ceremony's history.
52.
Molly Meldrum became a judge on 2004's Popstars Live, a reality talent quest program on Channel Seven, alongside fellow judges, Christine Anu and John Paul Young.
53.
Molly Meldrum appeared on the fourth season of the Australian version of Dancing with the Stars in 2006, where he dressed as a pharaoh to dance to "Walk Like an Egyptian" by The Bangles; he was voted off after the first round.
54.
Molly Meldrum was on an episode of Deal or No Deal on 13 February 2006.
55.
In early December 2009, Molly Meldrum interviewed UK singer and series 3 Britain's Got Talent runner-up, Susan Boyle.
56.
Since 2010 Molly Meldrum has been a regular guest on Steve Vizard's daily radio show, commenting on sport, music, travel and current affairs.
57.
In late November 2011, at the ARIA Awards, Molly Meldrum introduced Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard, who inducted pop singer Kylie Minogue into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
58.
On 15 April 2012, at the annual Logie Awards, Molly Meldrum was inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame.
59.
Molly Meldrum became the second person to be inducted in both the Logie and ARIA Halls of Fame.
60.
On 7 February 2016, the first part of a television biopic miniseries called Molly aired on Australian television, with Meldrum played by Samuel Johnson.
61.
Actual footage of Molly Meldrum himself receiving a standing ovation as he walks out with the aid of a walking stick ends the series.
62.
In November 2018, Molly Meldrum was inducted into the Music Victoria Hall of Fame.
63.
On 13 January 2023, a visibly intoxicated Molly Meldrum climbed onstage from the audience at an Elton John concert in Australia and attempted to briefly involve himself in the performance.
64.
Molly Meldrum later apologised for the incident, blaming his public exposure on an ostensibly faulty belt buckle whilst conceding that he was "a naughty boy, who needs a new belt".
65.
On 19 January 2023, new video footage emerged showing that Molly Meldrum had previously lowered his trousers to moon an audience whilst onstage at the ChillOut Festival in Daylesford, Victoria, in March 2022.
66.
On 21 March 2023, it was reported that further new footage had emerged showing that Molly Meldrum had exposed himself in public in order to urinate on the floor of Rod Laver Arena whilst attending a Rod Stewart concert on 15 March 2023.
67.
Molly Meldrum has an adult adopted son, Morgan Scholes, who lives overseas with his wife, Crystal Scholes, and the couple's son, Molly Meldrum's grandson.
68.
Molly Meldrum's younger brother Brian is a former racing writer, golf journalist and editor.
69.
Molly Meldrum's youngest brother Robert is an actor, director and teacher.
70.
Molly Meldrum was sorry when his family and friends were embarrassed by the poor taste of some comments.
71.
Molly Meldrum is a prominent supporter of the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League and the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League.
72.
On 15 December 2011, Molly Meldrum was taken to the Alfred Hospital in a critical condition after being found unconscious in the backyard of his home in Richmond.
73.
Molly Meldrum had fallen off a ladder from a height of around three metres.
74.
Molly Meldrum was placed under intensive care in a sedated state and had surgery for his head injuries.
75.
Molly Meldrum had been with Steve Vizard on radio discussing the importance of health on the morning of the accident.
76.
On 8 January 2012, Brian said Molly Meldrum was breathing on his own and having conversations, but added that his recovery would be slow.
77.
In 2012, a few months after the accident, Molly Meldrum interviewed British pop singer Elton John and American pop singer Katy Perry.
78.
At the Music Victoria Awards of 2018, Molly Meldrum was inducted into the Music Victoria Hall of Fame.